To Avoid Overshoot the IPCC Must Prioritize the Need to Rapidly Phase Out Fossil Fuels
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As governments convene to review the latest findings of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) regarding mitigation, the stakes could not be any higher, the science any clearer, or the imperative for immediate action any greater. The IPCC’s recent report on Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability leaves no doubt: Climate change is a human rights and environmental and social justice crisis, eroding health, wellbeing, the environment, and equity across the entire globe, in grossly unequal ways. Current levels of warming are already causing permanent loss and damage, especially for the populations most vulnerable to, and least responsible for, the climate crisis. Surpassing 1.5°C of warming—even temporarily—will unleash further irreparable harm taking the planet into a point of no return.
States have a responsibility to translate this scientific consensus into the concrete actions necessary to avert climate catastrophe. The urgency of the climate crisis demands a rapid reorientation of our societies and economies away from fossil fuels, the key driver of global warming. There is no time or justification for policy scenarios that fail to center an immediate halt to oil, gas, and coal expansion and the managed phaseout of all fossil fuels. Planning for overshoot on the premise that geoengineering techno-fixes and carbon trading can reverse temperature rise or mitigate its effects is indefensible.
As the politically endorsed overview of the IPCC’s key findings, the Summary for Policymakers (SPM) influences how the consensus science is understood and in turn, how it is acted upon by policymakers, investors, and the public. As you consider the Working Group III (WGIII) contribution to the IPCC’s Sixth Assessment Report (AR6), the undersigned organizations and impacted communities urge you to ensure that the SPM:
1) Foregrounds assessments of pathways to rapidly phase out fossil fuels at source, beginning immediately. As IPCC reports have repeatedly affirmed, fossil fuels are the primary cause of climate change. The recent WGII report underscores the dire consequences of current levels of warming and the looming threat of triggering tipping points and catastrophic feedback loops if warming surpasses 1.5°C, even temporarily. Therefore, the principal focus of the IPCC’s report on mitigating climate change should be on ending the extraction and use of fossil fuels, recognizing that wealthy nations should begin that phase-out immediately and pursue it fastest, to avoid temperature overshoot.
2) Acknowledges clearly that reliance on large-sale carbon dioxide removal technologies threatens to result in irreversible harm by pushing the planet beyond 1.5°C warming, from which a return might not be possible. The IPCC must recognize that these technologies pose precisely the sorts of risks to social justice, human rights and Indigenous Peoples rights that the IPCC WGII emphasizes need to be incorporated in, not sacrificed through, responses to the climate crisis;
3) Recognizes that the world no longer has time for misplaced reliance on market-based emissions trading systems and offset mechanisms, disguised as net-zero targets, that neither reduce emissions nor advance the urgent action needed to end reliance on fossil fuels, halt agro-industrial deforestation and biodiversity loss, and accelerate a just transition to a fossil-free future. The IPCC has clearly stated the urgency of staying within a rapidly dwindling carbon budget. Doing so requires that efforts to respect and restore natural systems, consistent with Indigenous Peoples’ cosmovision, traditional knowledge, and human and land rights, must be separate from and pursued in addition to emissions reductions policies to phase out fossil fuels, not traded off against them;
4) Heeds the warnings of WGII on the novel and possibly catastrophic risks that the deployment of Solar Radiation Modification (SRM) would pose for people and ecosystems, as well as for international cooperation and peace. Delegations must ensure that SRM is excluded from discussions of climate change mitigation measures and not treated as a legitimate response to the climate crisis.
This is the decisive decade for climate action. The public understanding of the science elaborated by the IPCC will be a critical pillar of that action. You have a responsibility to ensure that the summary of the science on mitigation measures clearly conveys to the global community the urgency of the crisis and the central role of fossil fuels in driving it; the need for a rapid phaseout of oil, gas, and coal to avoid overshooting 1.5°C and unleashing further irreversible harm; and the danger of relying on large-scale carbon dioxide removal technologies, carbon trading and offsets, or solar radiation modification, which do not reduce emissions or keep fossil fuels in the ground, and pose significant risks to people and nature.
Add your organization
Signatories
Abibinsroma Foundation
ActionAid International
Adéquations
Adventure Lodge
Advocates for the Environment
African Forum for International Relations in Research & Development (AFIRRD)
Agir Pour La Sécurité et la Souvérante Alimentaire (ASSA)
Aitec
AJECC
Al-Haq
Alaska Community Action on Toxics
Amazon Watch
American Friends Service Committee - AFSC
Amigos da Terra - Amazônia Brasileira
Amigos de la Tierra
Amis de l'Afrique Francophone- Bénin (AMAF-BENIN)
Amnesty International
Andy Gheorghiu Consulting
Animals Are Sentient Beings Inc
ARRCC (Australian Religious Response to Climate Change)
Asian Peoples Movement on Debt and Development
Association For Promotion Sustainable Development
Association of Ethical Shareholders Germany
Association of voluntary actions for society -AVAS
ATTAC France, LDH
Azul
BankTrack
Barranquilla+20
Batani Indigenous Foundation
Beaver County (PA) Marcellus Awareness Community (BCMAC)
Below2C
Berks Gas Truth
Better Path Coalition
Better Tomorrow Solar, Inc
Between the Waters
Biodiversity Conservation Center
Biofulwatch
Black Environment Network
Blue Dalian
Bomenstichting Achterhoek
Break Free From Plastic (BFFP)
Bucks Environmental Action
California Kitchen
Campax
Canadian Voice of Women for Peace
CAN Latin America
CAN South Asia
Censat Agua Viva (Friends of the Earth Colombia)
Center for Biological Diversity
Centre for Financial Accountability
Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL)
Centre for Citizens Conserving Environment & Management (CECIC)
Centre for Climate Safety
Centre for Environmental Justice
Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education
Centro Ecológico
CESTA Friends of the Earth El Salvador
ChambreTransversaledes Jeunes Entrepreneursdu Burundi
Christliche Initiative Romero (CIR) e.V.
Church Women United in New York State
Citizens’ Climate International
ClientEarth - Anwälte der Erde
Climate & Sustainability
Climate Action for Lifelong Learners
Climate Action Moreland
Climate Action Parry Sound
Climate Alliance
Climate Alliance Switzerland
Climate Change & Sustainability Law Clinic (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam)
Climate Emergency Institute
ClimateFast
Climate Justice Alliance
Climate Reality: Silicon Valley
Coalition Against Pilgrim Pipeline - NJ
coasap
Collier County Waterkeeper
Concerned Health Professionals of New York
Consociazione Nazionale Associazioni Infermiere/i - CNAI Italian Nurses Association
Corporate Accountability
Corporate Europe Observatory
Cultural Survival
CWA Local 1081
Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul
Dibeen for Environmental Development
Don't Gas the Meadowlands Coalition
Earth Ethics
Earthlife Africa JhbEco Action Families
Eco Justice Collaborative of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting
Ecoaction Committee of the Green Party of the United States
Ecologistas en Acción
Ecoropa
Ecozoic Policy Project
Egyptian Green Party
Ekologi brez meja
ELEPHANATICS
Energy Shift Europe Limited
Environment East Gippsland inc
Environmental Defence
Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA)
Equity Transit
ETC Group
Extinction Rebellion (XR) Nelson Mandela Bay (NMB)
Extinction Rebellion Bolton
Extinction Rebellion San Francisco Bay Area
Extinction Rebellion South Africa
Extreme International
European Environmental Bureau, EEB
European Research Institute
Farmworker Association of Florida
FASE - Federation of Organizations for Social and Educational Assistance
Federation of Community Forestry Users Nepal (FECOFUN)
Femmes Autochtones pour le Développement et l'Environnement (FADE)
FIAN International
Flight Free Australia
Florida Conservation Voters
Focsiv Italian federation Christian NGOs
FoE Russia
Food & Water Watch
Fossil Free Sweden
Forum For environmental and climate change
Frack Free Sussex
Frack Off London
FracTracker Alliance
Freelance Researcher
Fresh Eyes
FreshWater Accountability Project
Friends Committee on National Legislation
Friends of Mallacoota
Friends of the Baltic
Friends of the Earth Canada
Friends of the Earth Finland
Friends of the Earth International
Friends of the Earth Ireland
Friends of the Earth Scotland
Friends of the Earth Uganda
Friends of the Earth US
Fundacion Aguaclara
Fundación Pro Defensa de la Naturaleza y sus Derechos
Fundación Terram
GAIA - Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives
Gallifrey Foundation
Garden of Resilience
Gas Free Seneca
Gatef
geoenvi
George Mason University Center for Climate Change Communication
Glasswaters Foundation
Global Forest Coalition
Global Justice Ecology Project
Global Justice Now
Global Policy Forum
Grand Riverkeeper Labrador
Grand(m)others Act to Save the Planet GASP
Grassroots Global Justice Alliance
Grata Fund
Greater Whange Residents Trust
Green 13
Green Education and Legal Fund
Green Gorilla Consultants Ltd
Green Legal Impact Germany e.V.
Green Mountain Monastery
GreenFaith
Greenpeace
green Vientiane
Harrington Investments, Inc.
Heinrich Boell Foundation
Hikone Mocambique
Housing Assembly
Humboldt Unitarian Universalist Fellowship's Climate Action Campaign
Humusz Szövetség
Indigenous Taiwan Self-Determination Alliance
Inland Ocean Coalition
Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy
Institute for Policy Studies Climate Policy Program
Institute of Socioeconomic Studies (Inesc)
Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary - Loreto Generalate
International Marine Mammal Project of Earth Island Institute
International Women's Development Agency (IWDA)
Iowa CCI
Islamic Relief Worldwide
JA!Justica Ambiental
Jamaa Resource Initiatives
Jaringan Ekologi dan Iklim (JEDI)
Joshua Klemm
Just Earth
Justice Institute Guyana
Just Transition Alliance
Justiça Ambiental
KRuHA - people's coalition for the right to water
Laudato Si Movement
Legal Rights and Natural Resources Center - Friends of the Earth Philippines
Living Oceans Society
Local Clean Energy Alliance
Local Environmental Action Demanded (LEAD) Agency, Inc.
London Mining Network
Loretto Community
Manushya Foundation
Mid-Ohio Valley Climate Action
Milieudefensie (Friends of the Earth Netherlands)
Milwaukee Riverkeeper
MobilizeTO
Mom Loves Taiwan Association
Mother Earth Project
Mother Nurture Company
Mt. Kenya Network Forum
Music Declares Emergency
Mustards Last Stand
NAPE
National Association of Professional Environmentalists(NAPE)
National Campaign for Sustainable Development Nepal
National Family Farm Coalition
Nature Trust - FEE Malta
NC Climate Justice Collective
NGO Forum on ADB
Neighbours United for Climate Action
New Weather Institute
Nipe Fagio
Niue Australian Vagahau Association
No Plastic In My Sea
NOAH Friends of the Earth Denmark
Nous Sommes la Solution
Novasutras
Nuclear Information and Resource Service
Observatório do Clima
Offinso Partners in Sustainable Development
Oil Change International
ONG LA GRANDE PUISSANCE DE DIEU
ONG OPESEA-Vie
Pacific Islands Climate Action Network PICAN
Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum
Parable of the Sower Intentional Community Cooperative
Para Kore Marae Incorporated
PDA Arizona
Peevers Consulting Services
People for a Healthy Environment
People's Federation for National Peace and Development (PEFENAP)
Perpetuum Energi & Miljö
Philadelphia Solar Energy Association
philippinenbüro e.V.
Philippine Movement for Climate Justice (PMCJ)
Physicians for Social Responsibility Iowa Chapter
Physicians for Social Responsibility Pennsylvania
Physicians for Social Responsibility- Los Angeles
pivot point
Plastic Change
Polar Educators International USA, Inc.
Policy Research Institute for Equitable Development (PRIED)
Polish Zero Waste Association
Political Ecology Research Centre, Massey University
Post Growth Institute
Pro Public/ FOE Nepal
PSR Arizona
Pueblo Action Alliance
Quaker Council for European Affairs
Quaker Earthcare Witness
Quakers in Britain
Quantum Leap
Rachel Carson Council
Rainforest Action Network
Raise Your Voice Saint Lucia Inc
RAPAL Red de Accion en Plaguicidas y sus Alternativas de Amèrica Latina
RAVEN (Respecting Aboriginal Values and Environmental Needs)
Rapid Transition Alliance
Reacción Climatica
Realizing Another World (RAW) Foundation
Reclame Fossielvrij
Red de Coordinación en Biodiversidad
REDES Amigos de la Tierra Uruguay
RedRoot SVG
Reforest the Earth UK
Res.Awesome Ltd
Resource Renewal Institute
Responsible Decarbonzation Alliance
RESTORE
Robin Hood Tax
Santa Cruz Climate Action Center
Santa Cruz Climate Action Network
Santa Cruz for Bernie
Save the Bays
Science and Environmental Health Network
Seneca Lake Guardian, A Waterkeeper Alliance Affiliate
Shamamama.or
Sisters of Charity Federation
Sisters of Saint Joseph of Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia, PA
Social Tipping Point Coalitie
Socio-ecological union international
Sotol House Ranch
South Durban Community Environmental Alliance
Spirit of the Sun, Inc.
Stamp Out Poverty
Stand.earth
sunray harvesters
Sustainable Development Council
Sustainable Development Institute (SDI)
Sustainable Environment Development Initiative
Temple of Understanding
Terra Advocati
Terre et Développement
The Corner House
The Enviro Show
The Greens Movement of Georgia/FoE Georgia
The Human Exploring Society
The Libra Foundation
The Tishman Environment and Design Center
Three Rivers Waterkeeper
Thrive At Life: Working Solutions
TONATIERRA
Turtle Island Restoration Network
UBINIG (Policy Research for Development Alternative)
Uganda Coalition for Sustainable Development
UNISC International
Universidad Nacional de Loja
Universidade de São Paulo
Urgent Action Fund for Women's Human Rights
Vision for Alternative Development
VIVAT International
VOICE
Vote Climate
Wall of Women
Warrington CEE Bill Alliance
Water Climate Trust
Water Justice and Gender
Waterkeeper Alliance
Waterkeepers Bahamas
We the People
Weald Action Group
WECF
Wen (Women's Environmental Network)
WEST AFRICAN POSTGRADUATE COLLEGE OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH (WAPCEH)
WhatNext?
WMW/ATFD
Womxn from the Mountain
World Association for Christian Communication (WACC)
Young Greens Switzerland
Youth Advocates for Climate Action Philippines
ZERO – Association for the Sustainability of the Earth System
198 methods
350 Colorado
350 Conejo / San Fernando Valleyu
350 Eugene
350 Hawaii
350 New Orleans
350 Triangle
350 Colorado
350NYC
